More ads target Pa. reps on health care

As the push for health care reform legislation enters what seems like the home stretch, representatives on both sides of the aisle are being squeezed.

Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper (D-3) is once again being pressured to vote against reform legislation. A new TV ad campaign by American Future Fund targets 18 congressional districts, including hers in northwest Pennsylvania. It’s unclear how big their buy is against Dahlkemper. The ad highlights the deals that have been cut…

March 9, 2010 at 9:57 am | Comments (1)

Gordon bows out in 6th District

Lower Merion Township Commissioner Brian Gordon dropped out of the race in the 6th Congressional District Friday, ending a campaign that never really got off the ground.

Gordon, one of three Democrats who were seeking the nomination to take on Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-6), only entered the race late last year, a few months after Doug Pike and Manan Trivedi had already begun jostling in the hotly-contested primary. In a statement Friday, Gordon did not…

February 26, 2010 at 3:43 pm | Comments (2)

Brian Gordon, candidate for Congress… in 2012?

WEST CHESTER—As he waited for a chance to court Chester County Democrats here last weekend, acknowledging the challenges of starting a campaign late, Lower Merion Township Commissioner Brian Gordon had something interesting to say about his political future.

“I’m either the last candidate out for 2010 or the earliest guy in for 2012,” Gordon said.

He quickly added that he’s in no way conceding this year’s primary match-up against Doug Pike and Manan…

February 23, 2010 at 2:17 pm | Comments (2)

Schroder’s still got support in ChesCo

State Representative Curt Schroder (R-Chester) was no longer running for Congress when the Chester County GOP met to make an endorsement in the race on Saturday. But his presence in the race was still very much felt.

About five weeks after he dropped out of the 6th District race in the wake of incumbent Jim Gerlach’s surprise decision to see reelection, Schroder still netted about a quarter of the endorsements votes cast by…

February 21, 2010 at 7:04 pm | Comments (13)

Welch withdraws from 6th District race (Updated)

KENNETT SQUARE—Republican Steven Welch abruptly dropped out of the race for Congress in the 6th District Saturday morning, allowing the GOP to avoid an expensive primary fight and dimming Democratic hopes of winning the suburban Philadelphia district.

Welch made his sudden announcement as Chester County Republicans opened their nominating convention at a banquet hall here. Having asked to address the audience of almost 400 local committee members, Welch lauded what he called the “completely open”…

February 20, 2010 at 7:05 pm | Comments (24)

Johnson, Sellers fare well in BerksCo

Republican insiders from Berks County sent a decidedly anti-establishment message this week, when their non-binding straw poll vote showed strong support for Lieutenant Governor candidate Steve Johnson and 6th District congressional candidate Patrick Sellers.

The votes did not reflect a formal endorsement, but were nonetheless indicative of at least some unrest among rank-and-file party insiders. A Johnson campaign insider said the York County businessman won 56 votes, compared to 17 for reform leader Russ Diamond…

February 19, 2010 at 3:40 pm | Comments (5)

Former ChesCo Dem leader backs Pike

The former chairman of the Chester County Democratic Committee endorsed Doug Pike for Congress on Friday, as the 6th District candidates continued to jockey for position ahead of Saturday’s county endorsement meeting.

In a letter the campaign said was sent to county committee members, former chairman Wayne Burton said that “this must be the year we finally beat Republican Congressman Jim Gerlach—and Doug Pike is the only Democrat who can get the job done.”

Pike…

February 19, 2010 at 3:23 pm | Comments (1)

ChesCo GOP chair rallying support for Gerlach

The leader of the Chester County GOP voiced strong support for Congressman Jim Gerlach’s (R-6) reelection bid on Thursday and sought to unify the party behind the incumbent two days before it makes a formal endorsement on Saturday.

“Jim Gerlach has served Chester County with distinction throughout his career,” chairman Skip Brion said in a statement. “As our congressman since 2002, Jim has proven his commitment to the families, taxpayers and seniors in the 6th…

February 18, 2010 at 5:00 pm | Comments (3)

Gerlach internal poll boasts massive lead (Updated)

Congressman Jim Gerlach’s (R-6) campaign on Tuesday released an internal poll showing the incumbent with a huge, 65-point lead over primary challenger Steven Welch, in its latest attempt to paint Welch’s candidacy as a futile effort that would only hurt the GOP.

A poll memo from the Republican polling firm Wilson Research Strategies said that, if the primary were held today, 71 percent of primary voters would back Gerlach, compared to 6 percent for Welch…

February 16, 2010 at 1:34 pm | Comments (32)

Catching up with Steven Welch’s new address

I’m ashamed to admit that I appear be pretty much the last reporter in the state to realize that… drumroll… Steven Welch has moved!

Recent articles in both The Inquirer and The Daily News pointed out Welch’s decision to move a couple miles down the road, from Phoenixville to Charleston Township. For some reason, those little details slipped by me until earlier this month.

You may remember the early…

February 15, 2010 at 4:24 pm | Comments (7)